Matchbox Fairy Collage Sheet & Tutorial

The countdown is on! I'm leaving Wednesday to begin my big fat trip. I'm so excited (and a little terrified) of going on my UK adventure. Things may be quiet for a few weeks on the blog while I'm away, but I'll be posting up a storm on instagram, twitter and facebook (if you prefer the sweary version you can friend request me).

The etsy shop will only sell digital items while I'm away, but I do have a new pretty thing in there.

I've created a sweet little downloadable collage sheet/tutorial package for creating matchbox fairies.

The collage sheet is jam packed!

There are six different tiny vintage ballerinas that are repeated and reversed to give you some extra options. There are a SLEW of butterflies and wings to choose from. I've also tossed in some sentiments and words and crests. AND there's also a template for making the matchbox and everything is perfectly sized to fit together. Plus there's a 2 page instructional pdf (not that you need it, you clever thing!)

Pop over here to purchase the instant download

And... for no other reason other than it's pretty dang nifty....

Looky at this gorgeous 6 leaf clover I found in the garden today! I'm pressing it in a vintage book on being a gracious hostess.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe House 'Pins'

I am in love with Graphic 45's Floral Shoppe. It's just so.... lush, gorgeous, beautiful, pretty. I can't say enough good things about it. Every sheet is a dream. Today I'm showing off some wearable art I created using this collection and the House Jewelry Pieces from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

I've used various Floral Shoppe papers for the backgound keeping some pretty elements (like those pretty birds) nicely framed as a focal point on some of the pieces.

I randomly stamped the base corners and frames with a floral design from Gilded Lily and applied gold embossing powder before gluing the frame and base together.

A few sweet words snipped from vintage books. 

Paper butterflies are added too.

Tiny eyehole screw is added to the bottom edge.

Pretty charms and beads are added.

What is it about those Antique Brass Ornate Metal Keys that is oh so appealing? Must have something to do with the possibility of opening new doors, or hidden treasure boxes.

I really like the range in size. From statement piece, to delightfully wee!

I was in a bit of a pickle when it came to finding pin backs for these pieces. The small house shapes are quite tiny so I wanted to use butterfly clutches rather than long pin backs but I couldn't find them anywhere! But I did find magnetic 'buttons'.

These won't hold in place on a thick sweater or coat, but these little magnets are quite strong (they were trying to stick together when I was shooting the group photos for this post!) and will absolutely pull together through thinner materials. Not exactly what I was looking for, but hey, now they can be used as magnets by those who don't wear pretty pins, buttons or brooches.

Want to make your own? Here are the supplies you'll need

Graphic 45's Floral Shoppe

Gilded Lily Stamp Set 1

Antique Brass Ornate Metal Keys

House Jewelry Pieces

Gold embossing powder

Acrylic paint

Beads, charms and jumprings

Small eyehole screws

Discarded books

Magnetic buttons

Paper Fairy Matchboxes

Cross my heart, I am not exclusively making matchboxes... but I do have more to show off today.

Each is wrapped in paper from Graphic 45 and had a sweet little sentiment on the cover. Inside vintage paper, moss, paper flowers and teeny tiny paper fairy.

Each and every one is different.

I have a bunch of these listed in the shop. They're $20 each and include shipping within North America (add $3 for international shipping). Just a heads up for my American friends, the US Customs and Border Protection is delaying mail entering the US. *sigh* So expect delays. I adore you and appreciate your patience.

Now settle in for a long look at these cuties.

"Magic is all around" available HERE

"A little magic can take you a long way" available HERE

"Once upon a time" available HERE

"Let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures" available HERE

"A little magic can take you a long way" available HERE

"Small things make life good" available HERE

"Once upon a time" available HERE

"Cherish the small things" available HERE

"The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places" available HERE.

"Life holds a special magic for those who dare to dream" available HERE

"Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale" available HERE

"Every moment of light and dark is a miracle" available HERE

A simple fascinator

"Do you have your hat yet?"

"I'm not wearing a hat."

"YOU HAVE TO WEAR A HAT! Your grandmother was told she must wear a hat. You've got to wear something."

Apparently I have to wear a hat of some sort to my cousins wedding. I love hats (serious affinity to crowns!) but a) I get a bad case of hat head when I wear anything on my head and b) I have to pack it in a suitcase.

The solution? A simple fascinator!

A fasinator is "a type of formal headwear worn as an alternative to the hat; it is usually a large decorative design attached to a band or clip."

Most instructions I found for creating a fascinator said to use a 8" round, but I wanted something quite small. Instead, I opted for the Layered Frame Bella Oval as my base. I painted it black then sandwiched a piece of scrapbook paper that matches the colour of my dress in between the layers.

I applied a pair of Fantasy Wings to a Punchelements 1 inch Scalloped round and topped that with a paper rose. This element holds a length of tulle in place.

I backed the frame with a piece of felt and glued the entire thing to a headband. To secure things even further, an additional piece of felt is added over the band to keep it sturdy.

And that's really it! So simple. Done in not time at all with just a few materials. Best of all you can colour coordinate perfectly with your pretty frock.

I did attempt a tutorial but I had issues with the video and the footage was unsalvageable. August continues it's reign of disaster. *sigh* This project is pretty easy though and to make your own, here is the list of all the materials I used:

Layered Frame Bella Oval
Fantasy Wings 
Punch Elements 1 inch Scalloped

Headband

Felt

Tulle/Mesh/Net

Paint

Scrapbook paper

Hot glue

White glue

Paper flower 

And if you aren't attending an event that requires headwear, make yourself a fascinator and drink high tea at home with pinkies out and fancy something upon your head.

Freeform Junk Journals for Graphic 45

This months challenge over at Graphic 45 was to create #G45JunkJournal. Now, this is more of a junk folder than a junk journal, but I think this format works well for my scattered brain and horrifying organizational skills.



I’m always tearing out sheets, and forever tucking bits of paper into my sketchbooks and journals. The idea of a freeform, loosey goosey place to hold my ideas, memories and inspiration was oh so appealing.



Nothing is bound together in here, it’s all loose sheets and tags and papery bits.



As long as you have a nice fat stack filling your folder, everything should hold in place well when tied shut (yay friction!)

I began with a super simple tri-fold cover, and added ribbon for a closure. No pockets, no pages, just an easy peasy junk folder.

Then I created a bunch of stand-alone pieces to tuck inside.

Tags, ATC’s, envelopes…

 

... mini folder filled with ephemera...

...loose sheets for journaling and layouts.



I’ve also included a notebook which I simply recovered with another sheet of “Imagine”.



While I’m a HUGE fan of mixing and matching collections, I’ve kept things really, really simple here by just using the “Imagine” collection along with some Graphic 45 staples and a bit of ribbon. If you have any worries about coordinating papers, this is the way to go. You really cannot go wrong by sticking within a single collection.

Just look at all that junk!



Want to make your own? Check below for a video tutorial for creating the folder and here's the list of supplies I used for the Imagine #G45JunkJournal

Imagine 12 x 12 Collection Pack
Shabby Chic Metal Clock Keys
Antique Ornate Metal Keys
Washi Tape
SetLarge Tags—Ivory
Imagine Stickers
Cardboard
Ribbon
Glue
Bottle Cap
Paperclay fourishes
Notebook
Tassle

AND.... HERE how to create your own freeform junk journal folder. I've kept the instructions fairly basic so that you can alter this project to suit your own tastes.

The supplies used in the tutorial sample are:

Communique Delux Collectors Edition
Antique Ornate Metal Keys
Antique Brass Metal Clock KeysCardboard
Ribbon
Glue
Charms
Jump Rings
Brass Name Plate